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Smart Inspections in a Time of Growing Pressure
The Netherlands has thousands of kilometers of roads. Tens of millions of cars travel on these roads every year. Factors such as speed, weight, temperature, and precipitation all take their toll on the road surface. And that pressure is only increasing with the rise of heavier electric vehicles and the backlog of maintenance on the road network. That is precisely why it is becoming increasingly important to inspect road surfaces efficiently and accurately. With SmallToGo’s Road Inspection App, it’s a piece of cake.
The heavy car and truck traffic, which is putting more and more strain on the system, is causing even more wear and tear and creating a growing need to keep the condition of our roads under control, says Danny van Hooren of SmallToGo. “At the same time, the maintenance of our infrastructure has been under pressure in recent years. Bridges, such as the one over the Waal River near Gorinchem, and highway on- and off-ramps are showing defects with increasing frequency. The damage is mounting, while budgets don’t always keep pace.”
Anyone who drives in Germany regularly is all too familiar with the problem: long stretches of road with construction and warnings about bridge damage. “This situation is a harbinger of what could also happen in the Netherlands if timely action isn’t taken,” according to Van Hooren. “That’s precisely why it’s becoming increasingly important to inspect road surfaces efficiently and accurately. Traditional methods of inspection and reporting are often time-consuming and prone to errors. In an age where speed and data are crucial, there is a need for a smart, digital approach. A modern road inspection application offers a solution.”
With SmallToGo’s Road Inspection App, inspectors can document damage directly on-site, even without an internet connection. “This offline capability is essential, because inspections often take place in locations where cell service isn’t guaranteed,” says Van Hooren. “By using GPS, the exact location of an inspection is automatically recorded.” The app is easy to use. “The inspector selects a damage point on the map, adds a photo, and indicates what damage is visible and to what extent. With just a few clicks, a complete picture of the situation is created. This not only saves time but also ensures that the information is immediately usable for analysis and decision-making.”
According to Van Hooren, the application was designed with ease of use as a priority. “Settings—including even the language—can be customized so that inspectors can work faster and more consistently. Automatic saving ensures that no data is lost, even if a device unexpectedly fails. These kinds of smart features minimize manual steps and maximize the quality of the inspections.”
If you want to stay in control of the asphalt, you have to look ahead. By making smart use of technology during road surface inspections, problems can be identified earlier and addressed more effectively. This ensures that the Dutch road network remains not only accessible, but also safe and future-proof.
